New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-02
R1pJD TRANSIT AND NERVES.

fapid transit between the Atlantic and tine
Pacific Is one OF the greatest needs OF the Ameri-
can people. There has been q gradual reduction
IN time since the railways across the continent
we're completed, every year witnessing shorten
ing of the journey. An "Asiatic express run
ming between New-Yorlx and San Francisco in 100
hours is now promised, and sanguine railway
managers confidently predict that before long the
Journey will be made in seventy-two hours. With
the roads ballasted and curved as they are at
present it. makes dizzy to think OF the extraor-
binary speed required for run of $500 miles
in three days. A Western Journal acutely remarks
that passengers will need q new set OF nerves II
they arc to be whirled across the continent ut
that pace. American Enterprise however, is not
likely to be baiied by trivial an obstacle as
human nervousness. When the mechanical APP
planes are ad usted and the details of railroad
combination settled so that the running time can
be reduced to three or possibly even to two days,
the psssengers' nerves VIII be either quoted or
counteracted by some ingenious process.
Possibly this process will be temporary sus-
pension Of animation "The London Times" we
remember published few years ago curious
account OF some singularly successful expert
ments of this nature made in Australia An
Italian botaIist had discovered among the South
to it, with the aid of which he was able to sus-
pend the vital functions and to restore them at
pleasure. 1t was asserted-and of course The
London Tmes's7 credulity could not have been
imposed upon by any reckless ioker-that he had
operated upon dogs, cats and other domestic
animals, and had applied to the authorities of one
of the Australian States for permission to expert
ment with condemned felons The process
described n very simple and unattended
with permanent fatal effects. slight puncturc
made In dogs ear, two drops OF the poison
were injected, and in the course OF three or four
minutes the animals tail ceased to wag and his
heart to beat The dog would apparently be
dead-so dead in fact that IL was necessary TO
freeze the body into the hardness of stone in
order to prevent decomposition. The dog was
then laid away shelf in q refrigerator to
remain until the operator found it convenient to
resuscitate him. In due course Of time the body
was placed In tub OF hot water for ten minutes
and brought back to blood heat. The antidote
TO the poison was injected with a silver syringe,
and in few minutes the tail gently wagged.
intelligence returned to the eye, and the dog barSed
and trotted OF as II nothing had happened
The English Journal has never to our knowledge
informed the public whether the experiments
with the condemned fclons succeeded or failed.
lbo inventor was CONFIDENT, however, that ne
could freeze up a man for days, weeks and even
months. and restore him to life with powers
unimpaired. lie believed moreover, that longevi-
~ was not affected by suspended animation, the
period OF inertness being many days. weeks or
months tackled on to a mans sentient life. Ger
tainy If this process OF disseminating vital
functions for definite periods and Of resuming
them without harm 10 the bodily system can be
al he.
main drawback TO rapid transit across the cont-
nent win be removed. Tho conductor imme-
diately after leaving New-York can puncture first
the tickets and then the travellers ear. Two
drops OF cold poison and a berth In a refrigerator
car win put an end 10 nervousness and timidity.
and the train can trundle along across the
pruiries ut fifty miles hour without any signs
OF discomfort from the man In the frozen trance.
hot bath and the antidote from the silver
syringe be administered half hour before
the train arrives at San Francisco, and the pas
sengen win be restored TO consciousness after O
most restful and refreshing journey of $500
miles in an ice box. The luxury of q Turkish
bath might increase the pleasure Of resusctation
suitable being provided In connection with the
refrigerator berths. Possibly it would be ncces-
sary to put somebody under bonds for the fulfil
ment OF the contract OF successful termination
his would be a new feature of accident life in
surance. and undoubtedly could be worked out
to the satisfaction OF the travelling public.